Conservation
Vision
To create a new island safe haven for nationally threatened mammal species which protects and enhances the island’s unique ecosystems.
Flinders Island is a unique and wild place of immense natural beauty, with approximately 50 km of diverse and stunning coastline, featuring granite boulders, limestone headlands, sandy beaches, dune systems and sheltered bays. Approximately 75% of Flinders Island is covered with native vegetation, including remnant native vegetation and areas that were formerly cleared for agriculture and now regenerating with native coastal shrubs.
Fauna species of note include hooded plover, pied oystercatcher, migratory shorebirds, osprey and white-bellied sea eagle.
Since the late 1970s the island has been privately owned by the Woolford family and operated as a sheep station until the mid- 2000s. Over the past 15 years destocking has occurred as the owners transition the island to nature conservation and nature- based tourism enterprises.
The role of safe havens and value of Flinders Island as a haven
Feral cats and foxes have been identified as the major cause of most of the 30+ extinctions of Australian mammals over the last 200 years. To mitigate against the risk of further extinctions, government and conservation NGOs have created areas that are predator free, providing ‘havens’ for our most at risk mammals. Australia’s network of havens consists of over 100 predator-free islands and over 20 fenced areas that conserve predator-susceptible mammals.
Flinders Island provides a number of benefits as a safe haven:
- ‘Built-in ’biosecurity provided by islands and no fencing costs;
- Private ownership, remote locality and distance from shore reduces the potential for reinvasions;
- The island experiences a relatively mesic climate, providing an additional level of mitigation against the threat of climate change;
- At approximately 4000ha, Flinders Island can support viable populations of key threatened mammal species.
Project aims
A remote 4,000 ha SA island that is made free of exotic mammal pest species so that:
- a safe haven is created to enable the successful introduction of at least two nationally threatened mammal species;
- shorebirds and seabirds are able to breed and/or to(re-)colonise the island and to thrive, and
- extant native bird, reptile and invertebrate populations on the island can thrive.
Project planning
A detailed desktop assessment has been undertaken to identify the best candidates for introduction to Flinders Island. Based on this assessment priority species for introduction are banded hare-wallaby, Shark Bay bandicoot, dibbler and Nuyts/southern brown bandicoot.
A comprehensive Operations Plan has been developed by Biodiversity Restoration Specialists1 to outline the planning, equipment, transport, personnel, and logistics required for the proposed eradications. In parallel, key approvals have been sought and obtained to undertake the operations.
Key project elements
Eradication of mice and rats
Eradication of rodents through the aerial delivery of a grain-based bait across the island, in accordance with best practice.
Eradicating cats
Application of CuriosityTM cat baits to target cats together with a follow-up phase consisting of intensive ground-based operations to locate and remove all remaining cats.
Mammal introductions and other restoration activities
Following successful eradication of feral species, introductions of small mammals will commence to establish new populations of highly endangered native mammals.
Additional opportunities for restoration, including active restoration of overstorey trees and shrubs, will also be pursued in the future.
Partnerships
The Flinders Island Safe Haven project has at its core a strong and collaborative partnership between the principal organisations delivering the project: Department for Environment and Water, NPWS SA, Eyre Peninsula Landscapes Board, the Woolford family and the Australian Government.
Future partners can expect significant benefit from supporting the project including promotional opportunities, project updates and unique experiences.
Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a partner at admin@flindersislandeco.com
Why is the government investing in a project operated on privately owned land?
• The Woolford’s have agreed to place a conservation agreement over most of the island, in addition to a 1995 Heritage Agreement that covers about 250 hectares.
• It is an island that comes with natural biosecurity barriers that dramatically reduces the cost to maintain a feral-free environment and protection against reinvasion.
• The future of conservation is working with private land holders.
• The Woolford family has a long history of working with Government to improve conservation outcomes for Flinders Island.
What can visitors to the island do to support the project?
• Refer to the biosecurity checklists when considering visiting the island.
• Ensuring that all luggage has been checked and packed in accordance with the Flinders Island Biosecurity Plan.
• If you are coming by plane, boat or barge be sure to check the correct procedure for packing to avoid bringing unwanted rodents and pests.
• Contact the Woolford’s if you are planning a trip before you leave the mainland.
• Do not bring firewood to the island.
• Check all surfboard covers, swags and tents, BBQ bags and other high risk items that could harbour stowaways before leaving the mainland.
What impacts will this project have on access to the island for fishing and recreational use?
• If you are planning on visiting or working (fishing) around the island, it is imperative that you contact the Woolford’s before you depart the mainland and read the signage for operational updates.
• This is to ensure your safety while operations are in place, and to ensure appropriate biosecurity measures are in place.
• The island will require to be closed to all members of the public for a minimum of 6 weeks while baiting and ground operations are in place. Local signage will be updated to keep the public informed of when it is considered appropriate to re-open the island.
Project timeline:
January – April 2025: Loading and transport of supplies.
May – August 2025: On ground operations commence. Island CLOSED to public through this time period.
August – December 2025: Monitoring and cat mop up operations on the island.
January 2026: Island accommodation will be re-opened for tourism.
What impacts will there be on the surrounding local communities throughout the project?
• Increase in traffic at the boat ramp from January 2025 onwards.
• Additional employment opportunities and an increase in supporting local businesses in the community from January 2025 onwards.
• Biosecurity requirements to visit the island are in place from January 2025.
• Local community who wishes to visit the Island will be required to meet all biosecurity requirements. Details will be available on the Flinders Island Eco Escape website from January 2025.
• Inshore fishing, island visitation via boat or plane prohibited for minimum 6 weeks while operations occurring.
How will you avoid secondary baiting and off target baiting?
• The eradication operation is occurring during the non-breeding season when migratory
• birds are transient between the island and the mainland.
• There is little evidence for reptiles being susceptible to brodifacoum (the bait being used).
• Invertebrates themselves are unaffected by baiting toxins as a result of their physiology and digestion.
• Brodifacoum (the bait being used) is largely insoluble in water there will be no uptake of the toxin by plants and no impact on plant growth.
• The use of the baits for this project requires a Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority Permit. This permit regulates the use and sets out very clear requirements including monitoring for any target and off target impacts.
What effects might baiting have on terrestrial and marine life on the island and will this be impacting the mainland populations as well?
• Brodifacoum breaks down quickly as it binds with soil and is eventually broken down by soil organisms.
• The bait pellets break down with wind, water and movement. The baiting operation will occur during the wetter winter period, meaning that pellets will probably only last a few weeks on land at most after rains and storms.
• A deflector bucket will be used when baiting the coastal boundary. All pellets are directed towards land (this is where the rats and mice live), with only very few entering the sea.
• Wave action on saturated pellets will cause them to break up quite quickly and what little toxin is in a pellet will be diluted in seawater.
• Evidence suggests that short-term application of rodent bait for eradication purposes does not result in long-term persistence of this toxicant in the marine environment or animals that may ingest the bait.
What new infrastructure is being implemented as part of the project?
• The project will utilise existing infrastructure in the community and on the island.
• Employment opportunities and increase in support of local business is expected throughout the project.
• Signage and biosecurity facilities will be implemented both on the mainland in Elliston and on the Island.
Are there any employment/volunteering opportunities?
If you are interested in the project and would like to know more, please get into contact with Liz McTaggart, Project Manager: Liz.McTaggart2@sa.gov.au.
What will help make this project succeed?
• Skilled team to enhance the island’s ecosystem.
• Dedicated funding from partners.
• Effective, ethically approved, and successful pest eradication methods that have worked for over 600 islands.
• Local community and visitors to the island are key players when it comes to protecting Flinders Island from unwanted pests and diseases.
• All island visitors must meet biosecurity requirements.
• Contact the Woolford’s if you are planning a trip and request more information regarding the appropriate biosecurity requirements.
